Eileen Logan's mother was Georgina Maude Logan (nee Copeland), known as Maude, who was born in 1872 in Rostrevor, a small town in Northern Ireland. Georgina's father was a captain in the merchant navy. She migrated to Australia by herself in 1894 when she was 22. She married her friend's widower, Duncan Logan, in 1907, when he was 61 and she was 34. Maude and Duncan had one child, Elieen Maude Hamilton Logan, born in 1909 in Melbourne. Duncan died the following year, leaving Maude in 'genteel poverty'. Maude soon received an offer of assistance from Duncan's wealthy cousin, Gwen Collins. Gwen was originally from New Zealand, and Duncan had paid for her music lessons as a child and provided other support. Gwen later moved to Queensland and married wealthy pastoralist William Collins. They lived at the well-known property Nindoombah (sp?). Gwen never forgot her cousin's kindness, and provided whatever support she could to Maude. She invited Maude and Eileen to live with her family in Queensland, which Maude declined.

Maude and Eileen moved to Kew, where Eileen attended Ruyton Girls' School, and became dux of the school. Gwen and Maude maintained their friendship over the years. Gwen visited Melbourne frequently, and had her clothes made there. She moved in elevated social circles, including the family of the future Prime Minister, Malcom Fraser. She continued to support her poorer relatives. During the 1920s she passed down clothes to Eileen from her daughter Jeanette, a little older than Eileen. These include some of the clothes donated to Museum Victoria.

Eileen won a scholarship to the University of Melbourne, where she studied philosophy, taking out an Honours degree and a Master of Arts. She did a year of teacher training at the Australian Teachers' Training Institute, and for some years she taught at St Margaret's School and the Presbyterian Ladies' College. A blouse donated to Museum Victoria dates from this time. In 1937 she married Harold Stewardson, and thereafter left her profession to became a wife and mother. Harold worked in the company founded by his father, the Brass Company of Australia (later Extruded Metals), which made brass and extruded it into rods and sections. At the time of his marriage the company was still emerging from the difficulties of the Depression years.

On his father's death, Harold became Managing Director, and during the war and post-war years began to prosper. The dresses from the 1950s-60s reflect this period in their lives. They lived in Deepdene, and Eileen became a society hostess. Eileen had a friendship with family of Barry Humphries, as did her son Robin, who knew Barry Humphries' sister.

Eileen looked after her mother in her old age. Her son Robin recalls Maude as an elderly, grey-haired woman, quiet, gentle, and somewhat prim and proper. Maude died in 1966, aged 94. Harold died four years later of cancer, in 1970. After a long widowhood, Eileen died in 1990, aged 81. The clothing and textiles were passed onto her grandson David Stewardson, son of Robin and husband of the donor.

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